Davie Board Supports Ban Of Theme Parks

DAVIE -- Nearly 100 people who live near the Arrowhead Country Club cheered the Planning and Zoning Board`s unanimous recommendation Wednesday night for legislation that would ban amusement parks.

After an hourlong public hearing, board members voted to recommend to the Town Council that amusement parks, theme parks and stadiums be prohibited on property zoned for commercial recreation uses.

Council members, who endorsed the measure on Nov. 18 before sending it to the Planning and Zoning Board, will consider the recommendation on Dec. 2.

The measure would apply to five properties now zoned for commercial recreation and to any future property rezoned to that classification, Town Development Services Director Marsa Detscher said. The five properties are the Arrowhead Country Club, two racquetball centers, the Boy Scout Camp and Flamingo Gardens.

Town officials are negotiating with Arrowhead Country Club`s owner, Earl Morrall, to buy the golf course, which is south of State Road 84 and west of University Drive. In September, voters approved the purchase of the golf course in a non-binding referendum.

Matthew Morrall, Earl Morrall`s son and attorney for the golf course, asked board members to vote against the measure. He said his father`s company, Golf Inc., had been approached in the past by people interested in buying the golf course to develop the site as a theme park or amusement park.

In the event that negotiations with the town fail, Golf Inc. shouldn`t lose its option to sell to other buyers, he said. He asked the town hold off on the change until the negotiations are finished.

Neighbors of the course said eliminating amusement and theme parks as a possiblity would protect the value of their homes.

Ernest Wohl said he moved to the Arrowhead Condominiums 15 years ago because he wanted ``the serenity of a golf course.